20. Aidan

20

AIDAN

A idan carried Walt up to bed as soon as they got home from Kenzie’s. He still felt like he was in some beautiful dream where the three of them had just enjoyed a peaceful night at home and ended it feeling happy.

Could our lives be like that all the time?

But he was getting way ahead of himself. Kenzie didn’t even know what her future in dance might hold yet. This was no time to be dreaming of proposals and honeymoons and quiet winter nights at home.

“Daddy,” Walt murmured as Aidan put him in his bed. “I was in trouble at camp.”

“That’s okay,” Aidan told him firmly. “I got in trouble when I was little too. It’s hard to sit still all the time.”

“You didn’t go on your special date,” Walt said.

Aidan had warned Walt in the morning that he might be going home with Aunt Leticia because Aidan wanted to take Kenzie on a special date, if she said yes.

That had been quite the conversation. Aidan had to tell Walt he liked Kenzie so much he wanted to spend some grown-up time with her, and they’d talked about what that meant, with Walt referencing enough princes and princesses in Disney movies that Aidan found himself grateful to his aunt and uncle for watching so many of them with Walt.

“It’s okay,” Aidan told him. “We can go on a fancy date another time. We had so much fun with you, right?”

“Kenzie never went to a special dance,” Walt went on sadly.

Aidan didn’t like to see his son feeling sad, but he was honestly kind of impressed that he’d been paying enough attention to have a grip on some of the grown-up stuff that had been discussed.

“Well, she missed some fun things that kids do because she wanted to dance,” Aidan explained. “She loves ballet. So she wanted to do that instead.”

He wasn’t doing the best job explaining it. Telling Walt that Kenzie missed a dance because she wanted to dance was bound to lead to more confusion. But Walt didn’t seem to get hung up on that part.

“Can she do fun stuff now?” Walt asked.

Aidan opened his mouth to explain that she couldn’t really go to the prom now. But then he stopped himself before he could say it. Maybe she couldn’t go to the prom. But why couldn’t she go out for a special night in a pretty dress?

“I don’t know,” Aidan said. “I mean I guess I could take her out dancing.”

“Yes,” Walt said sounding happier. “Kenzie loves to dance. ”

“Should I make a plan?” Aidan asked, ruffling the boy’s soft hair. “To take Kenzie dancing in a fancy dress?”

“Yes, okay,” Walt said, nodding with solemn eyes. “That will make Kenzie happy.”

“Okay,” Aidan said. “You get some sleep now, and we’ll have a fun day tomorrow.”

“But not at camp,” Walt said, sounding worried.

“Definitely not,” Aidan told him. “Did you have fun at camp?”

“I had to sit on the bench,” Walt said, looking ashamed.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Aidan told him, barely holding in his fury. Did those silly kids really think that making an energetic child sit on a bench would make him less likely to go bananas? “Well, you will not sit on the bench tomorrow. We’ll do something fun.”

Walt hugged him hard, and Aidan drank in the sweetness of his little boy. One day, Walt would be too cool to hug his dad. But for now, Aidan was going to enjoy every minute.

He headed downstairs, thinking about all the fun things he could do with Walt to make up for that terrible camp experience. A pony ride at Cassidy Farm would be fun, or maybe they could go for a hike around the Williams Homestead. Things over there were probably getting intense with Emma’s wedding happening, but the trails were still open as far as Aidan knew, and the family could probably use the income from more visitors, after all, it was their first year open to the public.

He took a moment to admire their own tree with all the ornaments Walt had made with Aunt Leticia and Uncle Simon, and the one that now held the picture of Kenzie with the mall Santa. It made him think of how great it was to see Kenzie smile with shining eyes as they got her tree decorated tonight.

It would be really fun to take her out dancing, and to sporting events, and all the things she had missed. And maybe they both deserved a little fun.

His cell phone buzzed in his pocket, and he took it out, hoping it was her. His ex-wife’s name popped up instead. She had called a couple of times the last few weeks, but never left a message.

He wasn’t proud of himself for ignoring the calls, but if it was an emergency, or she wanted to speak with Walt, she would leave a message. If it wasn’t for that, then he didn’t really want to talk to her. The way she was abandoning his son hurt so much that just the sight of her contact on his phone screen made him angry.

But tonight, he was feeling different—hopeful.

He slid his thumb across the screen to pick up.

“Hey,” he said, mentally reminding himself to stay calm and patient.

“Aidan,” she said, sounding surprised. “You picked up.”

“Sorry,” he told her. “We’ve been off our routine lately. What’s up?”

There was a pause, and he could hear her inhale.

“I… didn’t like the way our last conversation went,” she said after a moment. “I wanted to apologize. I was a little stressed out and I guess I was feeling defensive. But you deserve a better explanation of what’s going on with Lonny and me. ”

“Okay,” he said. “I’m listening.”

“My pregnancy is high-risk,” she told him. “My sugar is high, and my blood pressure isn’t looking great either. I haven’t been allowed to work, and my job in Philly wouldn’t cover any leave because I didn’t have enough hours.”

Sharon had been working at a chain drugstore on an hourly basis. Aidan believed her that they wouldn’t help her out.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, meaning it.

“And Lonny didn’t just get a new job offer here,” she went on. “He got downsized from his old job. He tried really hard to find work in Philly for Walt’s sake, and for his own, in case the band got back together. But when he got the Chicago offer, he had to take it. We need health insurance or I… well, in my situation, it’s something we really need.”

He could hear her voice lifting slightly and her breathing change, like she was trying hard not to cry.

“Sharon, I’m so sorry,” Aidan breathed. “I have savings. I can help you guys out if you need it.”

“That’s… that’s so generous,” she said. “And so like you to be kind even after all I’ve put you through. But we’ll be okay, and I know those savings are for Walt. Besides, you could run into your own issues one day. I know it’s not easy to be a single parent. At least I have Lonny.”

He exhaled and bit his lip, feeling like a complete jerk for assuming the worst of Sharon. What she lacked in impulse control, she always made up for in heart and bravery. It was what he had liked about her when they were kids.

“Anyway,” she told him. “I was just busy feeling sorry for myself and trying to hold onto my pride when I talked to you about the move. I know I let you think I didn’t care about our son. I feel awful about it, Aidan. I want you to know I love Walt and I can only do this because I know he’s in the very best hands. But I’ll try to do better at staying in touch, even though we’ll be far away.”

“That would be great,” he told her honestly. “I know he would love to talk to you, even if it’s just a phone call. And I’m sorry for the situation, but I’m glad you and Lonny have each other’s backs.”

“I hope you find your person one day too,” she told him.

“I might have,” he heard himself admit with a smile.

“Aidan, that’s amazing,” she said, sounding genuinely happy for him. “I hope you won’t let my mistakes hold you back from that. If you have feelings for someone, I’m sure she’s awesome, and she deserves a clean slate.”

“Thanks,” he told her, amazed at how well she still knew him.

“Thank you so much for picking up tonight,” she said. “The baby will be here soon, and I couldn’t stand not to make things at least a little bit right with you first.”

“Boy or girl?” Aidan asked with a smile.

“A girl,” she said, sounding happy for the first time in their conversation.

He talked with her for a few more minutes about her due date, baby names, and their new life in Chicago before wishing each other a Merry Christmas and signing off.

He put the phone down, feeling at peace about the ending of his marriage for the first time since Sharon had told him she was leaving. Instead of heading up to bed, he found himself going out to the front porch.

The frigid air felt good, clearing his mind as he gazed up at the stars. He loved the way they sparkled against the velvet of the sky out here instead of being washed out by the city lights.

Sharon had actually given him excellent advice. Kenzie did deserve a clean slate, and she deserved to know that he wanted her to share her life with him. He could fool around with dating and games, but at the end of the day, what he wanted was to be her man. And if that meant uprooting himself and Walt to follow her to New York, then so be it.

Maybe she wanted to be married to her career, or maybe she would want someone more sophisticated to share her life with if she went back to the ballet world.

But maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t mind having a small-town carpenter and his boy tag along on her big adventure.

The only way to find out was to ask.

We’ll talk tomorrow after the ballet, he told himself. We’ll figure it all out somehow.